Vidyadhara (Chandela king)
Vidyadhara (c. 1003-1035) was a ruler of the Chandela dynasty of central India.[1] He ruled in the Jejakabhukti region (Bundelkhand in present-day Madhya Pradesh). Vidyadhara was the successor of Ganda, and expanded the Chandela Dynasty between Chambal river in the northwest and Narmada River in south.
Until the 1970s, scholars such as R. K. Dikshit assigned the beginning of Vidyadhara's reign to 1018 CE.[2] However, later, a copper-plate issued by Vidyadhara's queen Satyabhama was discovered at Kundeshwar. This inscription is dated 1004 CE, which proves that Vidyadhara was already ruling in 1004 CE. Based on this, S to the later Muslim historians suc. K. Sullerey dates Vidyadhara's reign as 1003-1035 CE.[1][3]
In 1018 CE, the Ghaznavid king Mahmud of Ghazni invaded Kannauj, whose king (possibly Rajyapala) fled the city, allowing the Ghaznvids to sack it without facing much resistance. According to the 12th century Muslim historian Ali ibn al-Athir, Bida, the king of Khajuraho killed the king of Kannauj as a punishment for this cowardice. Bida is believed to be a variant of "Vidya" (that is, Vidyadhara). Some later Muslim historians misread this name as "Nanda", based on which British-era scholars identified the killer of the Kannauj king as Vidyadhara's predecessor Ganda. However, an inscription discovered at Mahoba confirms that Vidyadhara defeated the ruler of Kannauj.[4][5]
Vidyadhara achieved military successes against the Kalachuris of Tripuri and the Paramaras. He built the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple at Khajuraho.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sullerey 2004, p. 25.
- ↑ Dikshit 1976, pp. 71-72.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Mitra 1977, pp. 72-73.
- ↑ Dikshit 1976, p. 72.
- ↑ Sullerey 2004, p. 26.
Bibliography
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
